Air-lift separator-pump.



State of Indiana have invented a new be; greatly interfered with.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORAN M. PnUI'r'r, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. ASSIGNOR TO INDIA-NA AIR PUMP COMPANY, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A CORPORATION- oF INDIANA.

AIR-LIFT SEPARATOB-PUMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

P'atentedI eli li, 1917.

Application filed April 28, 1-916. Serial No. 93,6 15".-

'1 'u all "whom it may concern Be it known. that I. OR-AN- M. ln-x'i'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and ant useful A Lift Separator ll-unp, of which the fiolil rig a speci ation.

En; the operation of airlift pumps, it is sometimes desirable to use the water directly w in a. closed system," or to send it till-GEMS intocondensing or cooling coil-s, or to move the W'llfi$1? horizontally after it has been raisedto the ground level and. then to raise the water st l f her! into the desired reservoir; and

L3 in a 3 these eases to obtain a steady stream.

lit 19 re y necessipiqg. however, first to remove the air from the water in order to do these things as otherwise the air and water will separate later and the flow of the water will- It has already beem proposed tois'eparate the air from the water at the top'of the well by meai'is of a I sepi atingtchainher, by which the pressure ofifilie'selnrri tk-xl! :ilr is utilized to force the 2:35 water on llltO the associated system. The

aecumuliited air in this separating chamber must-J hev alliowed'to escape as-it acoumulates, so as to maintain the proper pressure and proper water level therein and a constant 301" flmw of water therefrom Ilx if'sthe object of my inventionto provide means fon controlling: both the. escape of air and? Walton f'noma su'ohl a separating ch :1 mber, wherebyan constant stream of: air-free water as issupplied fronisuch separatingchamber to thenssociatedsystem I iesnccompanylngs'dmwing*iillustrates: my iiwentioxu. Fwure. 1 isa diagrammatic viewsliowingruywel milirrgotl fiverticali sectional view of the-sepa mttm; and. hi tile line 3 -31 Fig: 2.

Atursiiitublerdeptli within the 'Well casing s loemteditlie airliftlfpump 11 ofizmy suit typeg-wliicli air-lift'fpmnp reoei'vys water from Within 2 tl'ieliwell I casing: 19, and 'rec'ei ves" pipe 12'" supplidd firom iriireservoir'm nr which the premare ia 'lll'ie mixture; of l 8311 Within tliep mg .1" pipe: 15 and cliamher 1ft t vchamber l0.

' clear from Fig. 1

zliavingi an ai r-lift separator 441 pump I embed yan or; m y n1vention ;-F g; is an 3 s an enlarged sectionon rating chamber a1 d well up into it-and being covered by a suitrhle umbrella or lnushl'oolu plate 1 7 with SlCllS 17 overl'imlging the up per end of the ed ictionpipe 15 so' as to deflect downward t 1e water discharged :from the eduction pipi 15 and allow tl'ie escape of the air from such water, the nnlslil'oom plate 17 and the erforations in the depending; sides 17 assisting iii-the separation-of air and water, :11 d the perforations allowing the water to e: :cape from within the perforated sides 17 11 lore freely, so as to steady the level of the water in the separating A w 1te1-discha rge pipe 18 projects into the chan' ber' 16, prcr'eral-ilv through the bottom thereol and may be carried horizontally to any desired point and then turned upward to discharge iito anysuitable system, here 1 suitable reservoir 19]. as The intake e'nkl' of the water discharge 1: ipe' 18 within the casing 16 is located witl in a cylinder or hell 20, which at the bottom is provided with inlet openings 21, pref er abl'y wider at the top than at the bottonx, as shownin Fig. 2. I

oil ring rises and alls with the water level within the casing 1.6 and closes to a greater or less degree the opemngsQl as the water level in such casin 1 falls, so as to diminish mountingi'and pref Ferably has a conical botdown within the c: sing 1(i't o,i point below thelowestwater le' el therein. I The shell 25 is provided at one s ide with an upwardly extending passage 27 outside the main body of such shjcll, Wlll('ll' passage 27 opens at its lower end into the upper part of the casing 16 andatitsupper end discharges by a passage leading tan; gen'tially} into the shell 25 at its upper end. a Lpi'pe 29 projects axially. into the shell 25- mm theztop, preferably nearly to the botto'i' -of such shell 25, and is provided with a c! rTii-l'bl valve .30 throu h which it'lea'ds :to tlie=air esca-pepipe '31, 1n

8O cutoff ring 22 has a sliding fit on the cylinder 20'and is carried by an annular float 23 surrmlndlng such cylinder. so that such cutpasses up through the chamber 27 and is'dis charged within the shell 25, and circulates in a dewhich is a control valve 32. The air from within the upper part of the casing! 16, mixed with whatever water it still carries,

by the passage 28 tangentially scending helix within such shell, The centrifugal action of this helical motion produces a separation of the air from whatever water it still carries, the air coming to the center and the water to the outside, The air then escapes through the pipe 29, while the water returns through the pipe 26 into the casing 16. The escape of air is controlled'by the valve 30, which is re ulated to maintain the water level within t 1e casing 1'6 at the desired point; This normally maintains the air pressure within the casing 16' substantially constant, and the water level therein at a substantially fixed point. However, if the airpressure increases and the water level therefore falls, the float 23 descends and partly closes the openings 21 so as'to maintain the stream of water passing through the pipe 18 substantially constant'in spite oi. such variation in airpressure and. water level. In order to prevent an increase of pressure within the separating chamber 16 from causing'a sudden rush of water up through the pipes 29 and 31. a deflecting plate 33 is provided in the shell 25 below the lower end (it-the pipe 29 and above the pil 1 2G and conveniently supported by spaced arms 3% from the walls of said shell. If water is shot up from the pipe 2t). it strikes the deflecting plate and is prevented thereby from entering the pipe 29.

To supplement the air escape through the pipe 29 when necessary, I provide a vertical limit-operated slide valve, comprising an outcrrasing which communicates through an opening 36 with the upper part of the space within therasing 16, an annular jacket 37 around such casing 35 at the upper end-thereof to provide therewith an annular space 38 which is connected by ports 3!) with the interior of the casing 35 and a hollow vertically sliding member 40 connected by a rod 41 passing through the hole 36 to a float 42'within ,the casing 16. The

hollow sliding member 40 is unperforated at its lower portion so as to c ver the slots fill) when t is elevated, but is provided at its upper portion with'slots 43 which register with the slots 31) when the sliding lncnibel' 40 descends so to allow escape of air through the hole 36, the slots 43, and the.

slots 31) to the annular space 38, which is connected. by a. pipe 44", through a control valve 45 if desired,'to the air escape pipe-31.

It desired,-vt heair escape pipe may be 'OIIIIGIClLtKl by an overflow pipe 46 to the interior of the Well casing 10, so that in case any water 1s carried up into said air escape pipi, as sometlmes happens, slh'll water will overfiowback into the well and will not escape on ,to the surrounding ground or floor. In order to compel such water to flow into the well, the valve 32 may be partly or whollyiclosed, when partlv closed permit- "ting airto escape through the pipe 31 into the atmosphere but preventing any rush of water throughout the pipe 31. y

' In operation, the compressor 14 maintains the desired air pressure within the reservoir 13, from which air is withdrawn through the pipe 12 and discharged through the airli t 1 pump 11, which causes the mixture of 'air and water to rise through the eduetion pipe 15 in'the usual manner. This mixture of air and water is discharged from the top of tlie eduction pipe 15 against the under side of the mushroom plate or umbrella 17, which art-1y separates the air and water, deflecting'the water downward to the bottom of the chamber 10' and allowing the air to es cape through the holes in the depending sides of such mushroom plate. The air ac: vcumulatc's intli'e' upper part of the chamber- 16, and the water in the lower part, and the pressili'e of the air forces the'water through the slots 21 and upward within the cylinderv l0 and over the top of the intake end. of the pipe 18, andlalongsuch pipe horizontally and'tlien vertically into the reservoir 19 or 9 scending helix to throw to the outside any water it still carries and'bringthe-air to the inside, the water returningthroughthe pipe 26 into the chamber 16 and the air escaping 1 through the pir 29; valve 30, and pipe 31 into the atmos here or through the pipe 46 into the well casing. The valve 30 is adjusted to allow air normally to escape just sullicicntly rapidly; to maintain the water level within the casing 16 at the desired point. It for a n v reason this valve 30 does notsallow the air to escape from the chain.-

b'er 2(3 with'suflit-ient raphlity,.the water" I level-within such chamber falls and the floats 23 and 42 descend. 'llie descent of the float 23 causes the cut-off ring 22.to close par-- tially the slots 21, so as to diminish the outlet area into the pipe lb and thus compensate by decreasing such outlet area for the increase in air pressure so as to maintain the stream of \Vutcr discharged through the ipe 18 substantially constant. If the water level in the chamber 143 rolltlnllcs to fall, the descent of the limit 42 causes the slide valve 40.to produce registry of the openings 43 and 255) s!) as: to permit a supplementalescape of air through such slide valve and pipe 44 and valve -13. xUllllttliy tlle slide valve 40 is closed, and only comes into play as asap plgmental ipfESCflllB means when the air; eseaping thrpngh the ralre 30 15; r at snthclent lem ib tlt W the cut-0t! fgng 2% ha pawt ally closed, the slots 21 It the an: escapes pjipe saitl hell being provided with a \ratur-auln,ltt ng slut waler at; the top than at the 'lltttfllll, a eat-eff ring Sl d- :rhle on said bell t1 variably open and close Q tpp {rapidly the floats and 42 rise an i the said slot. and a fl Jilt carrying Said eut ofl' l -eye rse f the foregelng gll lt un takes 'l gmg and amvahle upun change in water pi 'e. In case anywr uer is earned u pelther le\'el ups-an] sep aratlngehanrher 1Q vary QM .1 the pipe 21). Q1 th pipe nt the the ppsltlun 0t Saul eat-0 11 ring and the et pipe :1, it 1 earl ied bag-k tl'n'ongh the pipe flit'tfl't size ope 111g of StlltLSlUt.

Asli Lesl tlt of my arrangement, the stream an alrlltt pump ha run; an e lu i-un time, a qf w'iter discharged through the pipe 18 Stlltll'iltlltgCllilllllJUt llltU),fllil'l't. ltlililllzlc'llifllt may be n aint aimal snhstz mtial-ly C(Ll lSIjlIlh pipe discharges, slid s1 g' vlmmherand:sn stailtifall ait free. i lag ring an outlet im' pe |:-.Q${tlg1@ (if 1 6 Sq; nnes, h nre ren, the separatipn at the air from the lip-p0 r part *1 get", a wa ter 1 air frqln' the water is not entirely complete l ;ien t;h e water enters through. the slots '31, st: t at spine air is carrier] with the water intq the -lingl'er :30. This a ir, though. small in amohnt. alight separate from the water menu is v'erl'in ler 20, and collect, at the tephf siarh evlintler, and in the course of time njglgit make the system ail-'lmuml. In order to prevent, this, I provide a pet cock 5,0 thigh; connects the space within the hpper entl" of th cylinder 20. with, the atmospherelso as, t provide a restricted est-ape Vent fo any air which may collect. 'By p pjiver a ljustment'of the pet cock 50, any air whieh collects in the cylinder 20 may he peamit ted to escape while the rent is suflieiently restricted s as to prevent any material amount {if water fr m passing through.

1 ain as my inventign:

\ fainlift separator pump, comprising 1ft pump having an edu etinn pipe, 2 "ng'ehaxnher into whieh saht eduee discharges, said separatingchamti be]: hguqpg an outlet for permitting. escape f-eii fima h Uppe P Q E H wh r al e;cm tr lling-the effective, sizeoft said ontflpw pipe leading, from said chamber, air-es -ape pipe. and; a float-eontrgllepl valve controlling the. (i. .-\n airlift sepal atur pump, eonlpnisihg inlet. t said water-outflow pipe, said fl0atan airlift pump har 11 g an (,(lllbtgiujhflilifi, :11 l cont lied moving tmvargl open and sepanatingeha uher int )which saiqhmljmbjhm 2 Anaiirlitt separator. pump, emmifsing ing a \rater .ret-ur n pipe; leading; tliemfix'nnl;

' hitll'llfl;humnh ing aneduethwihllw, "a hate aid, law-Mimi; u amlielr belhm he sej'iarat'ng ehah h intir whigzh said e1tlc minimum, water lere thereihflmltalmi Ham-1 E 1 ,l m, S, hflltl Supttlittlllgf Glut? ing a; passage leadin 5- fi mnltlie tap-1 off said; ierh aneut et; apermitting cape -H i",; cham er tangentially inte thfli iit h. ulimt mu w ll neithe n ne 11 .1 fi m-st nt" he middlewofisaa ele ,v .aml eentmlledg a p ntre l ng the t L lL hllh t epar L-tm nten e-imp seem ipJe n tflm PIPQ! l flz'lli llllp ltl iamanlahmtiam131mm h erimimiammp s g; inaz-e w aherii .tteflvhiel-xismidediwtima wi t!) nix-e t dfiethhnine, n im m Mfihieh. ik al m'tmtii 4 gee-Seal emra ihehuns: tatmhea m mg :1 a eatlm fe ine: n i tle er;Pemtt ttiflgieseape mite hates uimum-rmh I hfrm ri the zipper parh'tlrempf,at wateri- (LfS manually-tith rattl \{qpipe having itsintnkg and prejeeti mama;- wiir mg upward-into said separating, chamb m ing em helli w u din t uuttluw pipe having its il italiie end pm eb i g-apw (1 into Slld separating elm a hell surruumling the intake 0- \vatel -o-litflow pipe, said. helili hei ring an Mal let for allowing escape of air from the upper part of said separating chamber under abnormal conditions, and a float-operated valve responsive to the water level in said separating chamber and controlling said supplemental air-escape outlet.

8. An airlit't separator pump. comprising an airlift p'lunphaving an eduction pipe, a separating chamber into which said eduction pipe-discharges. a \vater outllow pipe leading from said chamber. said separating chamber having a primary air outlet for allow-ing escape ofair from the upper part of said separating chamber. and also having a supplenu-ntal air-escape outlet for allowing escape of air from the upper part oi" said separating chamber under abnormal conditions, and a float-operated valve responsive to the water level in said separating chamber nd controlling said supplen'ie'u'tal air eseape outlet.

9. An airlil't separatorpump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, :1.

separating chamber into which said educ lion'pipe 'd'iselmlges, a water-outflow pipe leading from said chamber, said separating chamber having ,a primary air outlet for allowing escape of air from the upper part of said separating chamber, and also having a supplemental air-esca e outlet for allowing escapefof air from t e upper part of. said separating chamber under abnormal conditions, and a float-controlled valve responsivc to the water level in said separating chamber and controlling, the size of the inlet opening to said water-outflow pipe.

.10. An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a separator chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, a water-outflow pipe leadingifrom said chamber, said separating chamber having a primary air outlet forallowing escape, of air from the upper part of said separating chamber, and also having a suppleu'ienta-l air-escape outlet for illllVlllQI escape of air from the upper' part of said separating chamber under abnormal cond tions. a float-operated valve responsive to the water level in said separating cham-' her and controlling said supplemental airescape outlet. and a float-controlled valve responsive to tlie'watcr level in said separating chamber-mid controlling the size of the iulet opening to said water-outflow pipe.

. 11 An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, :1 separating chamber into which'said eduction pipe-discharges, a water-outflow ,pipe leading from said chambcn; a float controlled valve controllingthe escape of airfrom thetop part of said separating chamber. and a float controlled valve (ontrolling t ilet to said water-outflow pipe, said tw'ov .es operating oppositely upon a variationin the water level in said separatingsc llamber.

12. An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, a water-outflow pipe leading from said chamber, a floatcontrolled valve controlling the escape of air from the top part of said separating chamber. and a float-controlled 'alvecontrolling the inlet to said water-outflow pipe.

13. An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a separating chamber into which said eduction pipe discharges, a water-outflow pipe leading from said chamber, a floatcontrolled valve. controlling the esc: pe of air from the top part of said separating chamber, and a float-controlled valve controlling the inlet to said water-outflow pipe, said first-named valve opening and said second-named valve closing upon a fall in the water level in said separating chamber.

14. An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pum havinga'n eduction pipe, at separatin cham er into which said eduction pipe ischarges, a water-outfiow pipe leading from said cham er, a shell mounted on the top of said separating chamber and havin a water-return pipe leading therefrom into said separating chamber below the minimum water level thereon and also v having a passage leadingfrom the top of said separating chamber tangentially into the upper part of said shell, an air-escape pipe projecting into the middle of said shell, a

valve controlling the eflectivesize of said air-escape pipe, and a float-controlled valve responsive to the water level in such separating chamber and controlling the inlet area of said water outflow pipe.

15. An airlift separator pump, comprising an airlift pump having an eduction pipe, a separating chamber into which said eduction pi-pe discharges, a water-outflow pipe leading from said chamber,a shellmounted on the top of said separating chamber and having a water-return pipe leading therefrom into said separating chamber below the minimum water level therein and also having a passage leading from the top of said separating chamber tangentially intov thejupper part of said .shell, an air-escape pipe projecting into the middle ofsaid shell, and a float-controlled valve responsive to the water level in such separating chamber and cape of airfrom the upper part thereof, a

too

cape'of air from the up per part thereof, a water-0utfi0w pipe leading from said chamber and having its.inlet end projecting upward into said chamber, a bell. overhanging the intake end of said wateramiflow pipe, said hell being prnvir led -vith a. vent connecting the interior of said bell with a point outside said separating e iainber.

In witness whereof. I have hereunto set my hand at Inclianap )lis, Indiana, this ninth day of February, A. I). one thousand nine hundred and sixteei l.

ORAN M. PRUITT. 

